Currently all people who have emailed me should have received a confirmation email. If you have not received a confirmation email yet then you are not signed up!

Great to see so much interest again this year.

For you Supertopo Gringes out there, you have plenty of time to sign up! Come on and have some fun with your fellow Supertopians and sign up so you can send someone a wacky gift! I hear rubber chickens and barbed wire are selling out fast!

hey there say, strider, i will let you know by friday, i hope that is okay... i am not too well off, so i need to think and pray about if i can find something nice enough, or make something nice enough to offer...

:)

but--i think i can... :)
and i love being creative, too, if i get the chance...
this looks like a nice chance... :)

neebee... I have always told my kids, I don't care if you just paint "I Love You Daddy" on a rock and wrap it in an old map. It will mean the world to me. The kids are older (16-28) and I still tell them the same thing.

Don't worry about where you are financially with this thing. Be creative and someone will love what you have to offer.

Simon has it right. It is not about money (although some of us are too un-creative to think of anything to make- like myself) it is about sharing a moment with someone you probably don't even really know.

Regardless neebee, you have until the end of the month to sign up, so it is early still to make a decision to participate.

I think this is a wonderful idea. I am a new poster here, jumping into the pool but I can come up with something nice, clean and fun for whoever I get.

Neebee, I would be THRILLED if you were my Secret Santa and I received something you made. Creative, homemade, imaginative gifts are wonderful.
My mother has kept every card my brothers and I ever made for her, and pulls them out to our embarrassment every so often.

We used have Christmas in July every summer at Tuollumne Lodge. One year at the party everyone had gotten their present and the beer was about gone. I hadn't gotten my present and sat there like a bummed out little kid. So Nita sees me sitting there like a lump and, sweetly, she somehow finds one more present with no name on it, and says, "hey Mike, this must be yours". I can't even remember what it was, but it wasn't really mine, and I thought it was lame. So, like a disappointed dumb ass, I figured somebody just blew it off and didn't bother. A couple days later this one guy, I forget his name but he seemed like an OK dude, comes up to me and gives me my wrapped present, "sorry Mike, I was down in the valley drunk and in jail for a couple nights and missed the party". It was a locking 'biner. Hope for humanity, eh.

As of this post, everyone who has signed up should have received an email from me either confirming your participation or requesting a bit more information before I can confirm you. Big thank you to all who have signed up! We are going to have a much larger group this year!

For those of you who have not signed up and are on the fence...DO IT! I can tell you right now that there is a very diverse group of people signed up and the gifts will be pretty interesting this year.

To join in: Send an email to supertoposanta (at) gmail (dot) com with these three details: Your supertopo name, you real name and your shipping address. Thats it. If you have any special concerns or considerations regarding gift giving please note them as well (death allergies, shipping limitations, etc...)

If anyone else has not received my emails, please add the supertoposanta email address to your safe recipients list. We need to make sure everyone gets the next email I send out on Dec. 2nd with your Secret Santa name and address...

I just want to add that while I can not 100% guarantee the non-weirdness of all participants, I can say pretty confidently that the current group is safe. About half are known to me personally to some extent (via climbing partnerships, Facelift participation, Bay Area OW crew, etc...) and the other half I have gone through and checked their Supertopo names and posts to verify that at least publicly on this forum, they are cool. We all may not agree on politics, religion, ethics or style but we are all good and decent humans from as far as I can tell. If you decide to join, only two people will ever know your address: me and your Secret Santa. This is also the second year I am doing this and the first year went off without a hitch and everyone had fun.

You are not the only person who has concerns over privacy and safety and I have had multiple conversations about this exact subject. However, everyone so far as chosen to participate. But I must admit that it saddens me that we live in times that people fear to play a fun holiday game such as this. I understand and empathize but it still makes me sad....

No, I didn't participate last year and don't intend to this year. Since I am the one organizing it and I am the one assigning Santas, it doesn't really seem right for me to send someone my name and address when they know, that I know, that they know, that I know.... You get it...

I am participating in a few other Santa games, so it's not like I am not having my own fun... =)

So who would you guys like to see sign up and how can we convince them?
I would love to see what Werner would think of his gift and what he would send.
Chris Mac is also another hold-out, I am betting a copy of a guidebook or maybe a swanky t-shirt?
I really need some hangers, can someone convince Greg to join up?

Random statistics:

Somewhere over half of the people who have signed up, have not posted in this thread. By some strange coincidence, currently ~63% of all participants have the words "I'm in" in the subject of the email they sent me. Roughly equal ratio male:female Currently 10 states in the USA are represented (with California the majority) 3 countries are also represented

Still plenty of time to sign up!

And to help convince you to sign up, here is a bunny with a pancake on his head...

I do believe we have actual statistical analysis of a SecretSanta project. What is the world coming to?

•Somewhere over half of the people who have signed up, have not posted in this thread.
•By some strange coincidence, currently ~63% of all participants have the words "I'm in" in the subject of the email they sent me.
•Roughly equal ratio male:female
•Currently 10 states in the USA are represented (with California the majority)
•3 countries are also represented

But the big questions remain unanswered:
What is the ethnic mix?
Percentage of Republicans?
Jews v. Christians?

hey there say, strider.... man oh man.... my friend in calif, since we were kids, well, she loves bunnies (i do too, but i can't own one right now, not with all my critters and too little a place here) and well,
if SHE were here:

to see that-there CUTE little bunny with the pill-box-hat,
ooops, i MEAN PANCAKE-HAT, she would surely sign up, and fast, too!...

hmmm... not sure if the bunny-bit will work on others though...
hmmm... some folks really like teddy-bears far-better, you see...
and--they don't have to feed them... ;)

Apparently, if you try to send too many messages too quickly through gmail, then google turns your account off...

Anyway, about half the emails were sent from the supertoposanta email address and the other half came from my personal email address since the supertoposanta address got turned off by google. Pain in the butt...

At any rate, as of about 5 minutes ago, EVERYONE should have an email with their Supertopo Santa gift recipient.

If you have NOT received the email please contact me asap. Remember to check your Spam/Junk inboxes as well.

At this point, my job should be done. To everyone who is participating, thank you so much.

Nature, Just FYI, I sent you an email thru supertopo a month or so ago (with an Indian Creek question), and never got a reply so I'm wondering if a lot of stuff is ending up in your spam.
I take absolutely no offense at the no reply, but just thought you'd like to know, in case it's a general phenomenon..

Aya - since I recently found this out I'm gonna assume others have yet to make the same discovery...: the UPS store will pack it for you with either paper or packing peanuts (your choice!) so no paper buying necessary. YAY!!

I just sent mine.
I didn't put my name on it, but on the other hand the only thing I had to pack it with was crumpled up paper from my recycling basket - the majority of which was my old scribbled notes which are kind of a giveaway if you know what I'm doing with my life right now.

In retrospect, I think I padded it poorly and should have crumpled up paper on the underside of the present in the box, so I hope it's in one piece when it arrives... I am sick, and stressed from 5 exams tomorrow, and rushing... and now I'm all anxious about it :/

Mine went out to Georgia today. It was something that meant a lot to me. I hope they love it. I find it very cool in itself in mailing to an unknown recipient who you can bring joy to and hopefully share a rope with some day, or not.

Awww, I just realized that I should have put a "good for a free night at the bivy" card in my box so if my recipient ever finds him/herself in my neck of the woods climbing they'd have a place to stay. booo!!

Aya, I wouldn't worry a bit about not including a card stating such. As much shyte as is given and received here, I would guess that that sentiment - at least the offer of sincere local tips/info and/or a belay - is echoed by the majority of us out here in TacoLand.

hey there all... wow, say, this is so sweet to enjoy all this, the picture make it special too... )

bluering, what a funny story, as to wondering about your aunt,
etc... :))

ooo, and early OPENERS here, i see! )

wow, johntp... what an extra special share, to have your gift with family! wow, sometimes things work out even better than expected, for all involved! :)

edit: say, murcy... oh my... i just saw the:
"mine's been here for days... i hope it's not a pony"
:))

oh my... well:
my box just came here today, but i am trying to be good and wait.. either for when i get into the new house (IF before christmas) or, i will either open it after babysitting the grandkids on the day they go to their other families christmas party (sun)... or, on christmas eve...

... oops, i know, i know, i can make things complicated at times--i like to think on "best ways" to do stuff... :))

BUT i will send out a say thank you NOW, for the box's arrival, and then thank you later, too! i don't get many gifts, so this will be really special... so--thank you so very kindly, supertopo-person! :)

well,
i am mailing mine out late tomorrow, i reckon... so it won't get mailed til saturday... hope no one will be let down...

Was in such a rush with kids and work I didn't wrap, hopefully will get there in time, only going from cen cal to another part of cal! Thanks again Nick, if you ever come through Monterey Bay we can rope up, if you haven't been to the Pinns it's a treat. Cheers everyone, happy holidays!

My family is all getting together Sunday this year, since my brother's wife is levaing Monday and my mom and sister are leaving Wednesday to various tropical vacations, which means that hopefull I'll have a ST gift waiting for me at my house when I get back and I can open it on 12/25!!

Lolli - I was the one who shipped the gift from your Santa (since the lucky bastard went on a climbing trip) and when I asked the lady how long it would take to get there she said, "Good Luck". I am not exactly sure what she meant by that... But I assume it will make it...eventually. =(

hey there say, johntp.... hope you get in a good visit with your folks... will you be there long... i remember me and my ex, and kids, we all ACTUALLY drove from texas to calif, one year, in winter to see my folks, and we got to stay about two whole weeks!!!!

*course, it was really ODD---we actually went to calif that year, and it was the famous ICE STORM that froze up all the citris that year!!!...

we came back to 'loofa' sponges (that i had been growing) and they were all froze up solid... all the prickely pear cactus, that i used for food, were "melted" looking... :O :O :O

but you know---the brocolli, which usually would not have really grown, was doing great... :O

and--the visit with my folks, finally, for the first christmas since before i was married, had been a real treasure...

so i hope you will be there long enough to REALLY enjoy them... and not be a 'rushed business man'.... hahaaa.... :)

take care... may the good lord bless your travels...
*up here, winter storms can stall many a trips... but i dont think i know any folks traveling around here, this year.... :)
just me, trying to move into the other house... :))
*dont need a plane, for that... :))

I'll be revealing my SS. I wanted to wait to open the gift until the 25th, but that didn't happen. I opened the shipping box and there they were - gifts (no wrapping). So, I'm holding back until the 25th so I don't crush the hopes of others out there hoping they got the SS I got. :)

Hey Neebee, when is your new address going to be good? I'm sending you some perishables. If there is a better address right now, email me. I can the the goods to you by Christmas if you reply tonight. Cheers!

Thanks eKat for my book on the how's of wall climbing and my pure iceland spar calcite crystal. The book will be great reading for around the campfire and the crystal is on my altar right now. Merry Christmas!

hey there say, bluering and all..
i WILL be in the new house, as of tomorrow night (meaning it will be my first night there)... :)
critters and all, though i will sill go back and forth to CLEAN and get any extra hard to move-stuff... :)

so YES, I WILL BE IN THE HOUSE...
and good news, is--i will and can EASILY CHECK the mail at my old house, too... (will do, cause patty ann maried HAS to see her mail-lady)!

i will officaially change the address, for the jan, though...

my poor ol' efforts at secret santa sure slowed up, upstream at the ol' logs, though... due to needing to babysit a boy, sudenly, and THEN by that early 7:00 "getup" i lost all my night time hours for working on it...

then, it slowed up, cause the move was suddenly starting as well...

wow, talk about a challenge... :) kind of like a climb gone tough, due to weather vastly shifting... :)

well, i am hitting the dealine, like a horse to the ol' finish line--a horse, being a pro runner at that..

so, by the grace of god, and some money help from a friend, mine is being done, and sent, and on its way at the last minute...

wow, WHAT AN ADVENTURE! I love it! :)

hard hike, lovely mt view, and meadow to bask in the light of a chore chalked up for success (i hope the gift hits the bull-eye, too, though)...

Hey eKat! Totally cool! I have felt so clear today, and have seen through illusions that have hampered me a lot lately. It has definitely been a day of healing and I have you to thank for that. What a wonderful gift you gave me. Thank you again!

Hey eKat! Totally cool! I have felt so clear today, and have seen through illusions that have hampered me a lot lately. It has definitely been a day of healing and I have you to thank for that. What a wonderful gift you gave me. Thank you again!

BEST NEWS, EVER!

I don't know what to say. . . other than. . . it was such a stoker when Nick sent me your name. . . I knew EXACTLY what I had to do. . . find, unpack and repack my calcite and SEND IT!

At home alone - opportunity to peek, just like my sister and I did as kids. The Secret Santa gift was speaking to me, calling me more loudly than the half batch of Christmas cookies I haven't decorated yet. There's only half a batch because I ate all the others trying to resist the bright red package under the tree. Without children about, making me set an example, I became a child and answered the call.

What a coincidence. I love the book. Perfect entertainment for the upcoming holiday trip. We teach skiing, and are staying close to the mountain to make the work over the holiday less work and more fun. So the book will entertain me while the 18 year old and kid # 2, aka the 53 year old, are watching some sci-fi thriller.

We had the book, Spirit of the Age. I scored RR signature when he came to do a fundraiser for our local climbing organization. I gave that book reverently to my husband as a birthday gift that year. He actually read the book and loaned it to a friend. Alas, he never got it back. This is MY book, and no loaning will happen. All sharing will be done in our guest room for the climber friends who visit.

I timed it just right - went to the Apple store around 7:30 PM and it was not packed. I was in and out in FIVE minutes.

Then I went over to the book store and got my sister some books on Mexican cooking. She's in Atlanta so I sorta figure finding a good supply of Mexican food items for cooking (variety of chillies, etc.) will be tough so off to, of all places, Food City (thank Jefe!) for some supplies.

For you Mexican food freaks out there what ingredients (dry, non-perishable) can you just not live without? Type's of Chillies?

Mom got a stainless steal bbq. Dad got a box of fish and lobster from one of my suppliers.

Me.... a box of coals.... again! Actually... that's not true.... so far it's just a column of warm Tucson air.

Whoever my santa is kicks ass! Just told my wife the other day how much respect I had for Glen Denny and in the mail today I got a Glen Denny poster... I am assuming it is from my santa, so cheers, will raise a glass of my buddies home brew belgian winter ale to you tonight... given the gift I think it might be Simon...

I'm pretty sure you need to have a uterus to get a uterine prolapse, just sayin.........!

I'm glad they didn't break, I was worried!

oh p.s. we did our xmas early and one of the things we had was squash soup with te dukka mixed in... mmmmm! Awesome. And we had venison tenderloin and I crusted one of them in it before searing. It's good on EVERYHTING, assuming you like cumin.

Ho Ho Ho Ho Joe, I have TWO of these and they go with me every time I go out climbing. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine, If not, then I hope whom ever is the recipient of a "re-gift" does!! Warm wishes from Tacoland

Not a chance, Secret Santa. Love it and Thank You!!!
Thanks again St. Nick.
And warmest wishes to Tacoland, too.

Ha! Momma bird removes bells so they don't ingest the ringers. You evil plan would have been thwarted. :) There are five here - Henri (age 32), Ferne, Clover, Grace and Gabbie. A very happy flock. Thanks much Fattrad and thanks to St. Nick!

Looks like Crimpie and I had a "push the upload trigger" at the same time. Those pictures of the birds are really great! Thanks, Blu, yep, good times. Fattrad, not so evil, is your package still ticking?
Big fun, family over any minute, Peace.

I used it this morning and now I smell all lavender-y and it's sure to help me stay calm on the steep ice today! And I'll definitely be clean when I go to my friends' for dinner today... I actually just ran out of soap and was looking at having to use my boyfriend's Zest, ick. Yahoo!!!!!

If I didn't know any better, I'd SWEAR my Secret Santa and one of my dear (local) friends teamed up this year (not possible, but ya still gotta wonder...!)

My SS got me a kickAZZ travel mug that I can literally toss in my bag and go, and my local friend gifted me with a Keurig!! What a fantastic combination!! My new mug fits under the spout PERFECTLY, and both have been put to use this morning multiple times!!

Pictures to follow soon...

It's actually a white Christmas here for the first time in a bajillion years, so I'm gonna fill up my amazing mug one more time, chuck it in my pack and take my four-legged shadow for a hike in the snow!

Merry Christmas All!
I do believe my Secret Santa is Brad Solon because I recieved two CDs of supercool fiddle music played by him. Thanks Brad!

Credit: Zander

We are listening to these great tunes right now. Wendy and our son Peter are making bread in the kitchen while my other son, Forrest, and his Fiance, Laine are checking out their loot. A lot of books this year. I received the Stephen Hawking book so now maybe I can contribute to that thread, ha ha.
All is well.
Zander

Thank YOU POCOLOCO for one kick ass homemade chili salsa which was instantly devoured the first day I opened the package, on some huevo rancheros that I made that morning! The bowl , also hand thrown, is perfect in every way! Notice there is one jar missing in the photo..DeeeVoured.; the next jar is on it's way GONE. There is no way I could, would, or might have waited for Christmas to open this gift. It had a great buzz of energy in it.

Damn....PocoL, Thanks so much for providing the Salsa to the Facelift... One year- nature made breakfast every morning using your delicious salsa... Next time..maybe show up in person with the Salsa... (-;

hey there say, secret santa.... i will post what you sent... with a picture...i have only now, just had a break from the moving... still got more last left misc stuff to get, and then cleaning to do...

finally got most stuff unpacked, and sorted... but my leg hurt so bad from itall, and THEN went HIIKING in the snow, for see the grandkids sledding... up hill,and down hill... not too good on the leg :)

BUT--- you and your wonderful kindness, are NOT forgotten...
will post soon tonight or tommorrow...

:)

god bless to you and your family... sounds like you had a wonderful time, the smell of bread sure does warm the house...

Oh man! I received the best stuff ever. Too tired to post pics now, but my secret santa sent me a WONDERFULL quilt and a dream catcher that is unbelievably beautiful, along with STARS! Thank you my SS! I don't know how to thank you for these gifts from your heart. Other than to say thank you and your packaage is well appreciated.

It is one kick A$$ coffee mug!! One of my customers (at my moonlight job) tried to buy it today. Unfortunately for him, our store doesn't sell these babies; fortunately for me, my SS knew how many directions I get pulled in at both my jobs. Now I actually have the opportunity to enjoy my coffee HOT despite how long it takes me to finish the entire cup!!

I am sending belated holiday wishes to everyone on the Taco. It looks like everyone's gifts are wonderful! I am glad my giftee got his book (oops!).
I am stuck in Ireland for a few more days due to East Coast storms. Looks like I will have a second Christmas Day when I do get home.

hey there say, all... i still want to share a picture... but things are very "piled high" around here tonight... though the previous "piled hight" was all put away, and i was ready to do the picture...

Well, I wasn't a secret Santa or anything. But a few years ago, a SuperTopian (please confess!) very kindly sent me copies he had of "A Climber's Guide to the Coastal Ranges of British Columbia" (Dick Culbert, 1965) and of "Cloudwalkers" (Paddy Sherman, mid-1960s). He didn't need them, and thought to reduce clutter. Anyway, I had copies of both, and so now have given the duplicates to my brother.

I am finally home, three days later than intended, and have eagerly opened my gift. Mike, thank you for the awesome gear. Thin IS always in ;)
I will bring the camera home tomorrow and post up photos. We all love climbing gear pr0n, right?
Plus I am so jet lagged I will be using the gift card for coffee to kick start my day.

hey there say, the lisa.... ooops, had forgot to welcome you home... glad your trip went well... :)

also, crimpie... wow, i love marbles, too... sometimes the cats' EYES remind me of them, as they glow in the dark...

also, bluering... sometimes, too, even a late gift, can work to be perfect timing... so hang in there, on not feeling bad... if you can...

i wanted to do something for our "other neighborhodd" mail lady, as patty ann marie, really loves waiting for her... but i had no time...

nearly had no time, here too, barely hit the "finish line",
so "chin up"---perhaps it will turn out to be the "most perfect time" of all for tony... (though i really understand about the fun, for the "kick over the goal post" at proper time, too...

That is a beeyootifull quilt, Johntp!
Neebee your kitty is adorable :) thanks for the welcome home. It is nice to be back, so I can go skiing and enjoy the snow that fell while I was away.
I am still fondling my gift. Thin is in, thin is in.....

No worries, Bluering.
Shite happens.
Going to Rubidoo today. A bit cold, but I need to climb on the last day of the year. I don't have a New Years resolution, but I do have a New Years wish: I don't want to bury any friends this coming year. I buried enough this year.
Cheers to all and Happy New Year!
TY

A HUGE thanks to everyone who participated this year. It seems we pulled it off again this year. Thanks again to everyone for being such a great community that we can trust each other with a game of this sort (where money and private/personal information is at stake). Well Done.

If ANYONE has NOT received their gift (and has not heard from their Santa as to why) PLEASE let me know. In a few weeks (to allow enough time to make sure everything has come out right) I am going to be deleting my spreadsheets with everyone's name, address and Santa matches. So if you don't speak up now...then I won't be able to do anything for you...

And I personally need to give a few thanks out...

Zander - Thank you so much for the 'Taco tshirt. When you mentioned a Supertopo t-shirt to send to me I thought it might be the weird-multi-colored-climber shirt (which I think is HORRID) but instead it was the AWESOME taco-stuffed-with-climbing-gear shirt. Perfect!

neebee - Thank you for the lovely Christmas card. My family was curious and then surprised when I told them where it came from (more or less a complete stranger). It touched us all on Christmas day and I thank you.

Pocoloco - Thank you for the super tasty salsa! All three jars are already gone (and have been for a few weeks!)! Everyone (friends and family) thought it tasted great. When are you going to start distributing?!? =)

Good luck to everyone in the New Year and Santa will see you again next November for sign-ups!!!

-n

BTW: I am no longer checking the supertoposanta@ email address so if you wish to contact me privately, please send me a message through Supertopo and I will be happy to respond through my normal email address.

Here is the home made bag that my marbles came in. My santa knew that since I've lost my previous marbles I needed something to keep my new ones in so I do knott lose them again. Thanks again SS and hope you are well!